Grip improving device, system and method

ABSTRACT

A grip to be worn on the hands to improve the grip on held equipment, while maintaining sensibility and protecting the skin during activities. The grip includes a shaped sheet and an adhesive layer adhereable to skin. The shaped sheet includes a central portion, between-the-fingers and between-finger-and-wrist appendices extending from a perimeter edge of the central portion. The perimeter edge extends and covers beyond a palm of the hand when applied thereto, with the between-the-fingers appendices adhering around at least one finger and back on the palm of the hand or on the back of the hand and the between-finger-and-wrist adhering to the back of the hand. A removable protective film covers the adhesive layer, and includes a plurality of removable sectors. The sectors can include a central portion subdivided into three or more segments, and the between-the-fingers and between-finger-and-wrist appendices that can be subdivided into two or more segments.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. § 120 basedupon co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/558,113 filed onSep. 13, 2017, which is an U.S. national phase application under 35U.S.C. § 371 based upon commonly owned International Application No.PCT/EP2016/055791 filed on Mar. 17, 2016, which claims priority tocommonly owned Italian Application No. FI2015A000079 filed on Mar. 19,2015. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present technology relates to a grip improving device, system andmethod for use in connection with facilitating and/or improving the gripof the hands over an object. The present technology relates to a deviceto be worn on the hands and developed to facilitate and improve the gripof the hands over the equipments of various kinds, in particular, butwithout limitation, sport equipments like tennis rackets, golf clubs,baseball bats and the like or to improve the grip over the ball insports like basket, rugby or American football and the like or toimprove the grip over various working tools, and at the same timemaintaining sensibility and protecting the skin of the hand of the userduring these activities.

Background Description

Many sports or working tasks require a firm grip on equipment. A correctgrip together with great sensibility is fundamental to obtain the bestcontrol of the equipment and it is therefore very important, forexample, in professional sports. Typically, grip and sensibility overthe handle of the racket are essential in tennis to have maximal controland so the precision of the shot. The same applies to other sports, suchas golf, to obtain the most accurate trajectories of the ball, or inother sports for the greatest accuracy in throwing a ball.

Nowadays this is achieved by covering the surface of the equipment to begripped, or the ball to be thrown, with special films, wherein thesurfaces of these films are always in contact with the human skin.However, this contact may not be optimal, as, in fact, the human skinwas not naturally predisposed by evolution for this function.Especially, for example, in the case of sweating, as very often occurswhen playing sports, the grip becomes unsecure and not firm, with lossof sensibility and increased risk of skin injuries.

In some sports gloves are used; however, due to their thickness andtheir sliding movements relative to the skin of the hand, they reducesensibility and are therefore not usable in many sports or activities.

A clear example of the existing need for system improving the gripfirmness is given by tennis, wherein many players, especiallyprofessional players, apply plasters to their fingers for gripimprovement and skin protection. These attempts give, however, poorresults since they only involve the small surface of the fingers, andnot the whole palm of the hand. In fact, attempts to apply plasters oradhesive strips to partially cover the hand palm fail because theplasters or adhesive strips quickly detach from the skin of the hand forthe mechanical interaction and friction made by the equipment on theperimeter edge of the plasters or adhesive strips with the skin, andthey get very quickly peeled off from the skin.

Other known gripping devices are capable of being affixed to the palmside of a hand utilizing an adhesive. These devices are used to increasegrip or to protect the palm side of the hand. However, these devices aredifficult to apply, and may have border or edges that are exposed on thepalm side, thereby leading to these edges to be peeled off the skin andrendering the devices useless. Still further, some of these devices donot completely cover the palm of the hand, thereby resulting in adisadvantage that the present technology overcomes.

The frictions and tractions exerted by sport equipment over the palm ofthe hand are strong enough to peel off these known devices from the skinby any exposed border between the sheet of the device and the skin ofthe hand. This leads to the notion that the area of the palm of thehand, where these frictions and tractions are exerted, must becompletely covered by the sheet of the devices, and all its borders mustbe brought away from this palm area and on to the back of the hand.Without this complete coverage of the palm, these known devices can peeloff the hands after only a very short time of use.

Still further, these known devices lack specifically configuredremovable film sector that are configured in a such a way for specificsequential removal. This lack of sequentially removable sectors by inthese known devices results in improper application to the hand whichcannot be fixed by removing and replacing. This is because the typicalskin suited adhesives of these known devices lose much of their adhesiveproperty after the first application, and thus results in a one-timeapplication. These known devices must be applied properly the firsttime, which is difficult because they typically have a single removableprotective film that covers the entire device.

Even known devices that may include a few removable film sections, stilllends to the same problem since the hand, to which these devices arebeing applied on, has many separate and independent movable zones, andthese few removable sections are not sufficient for proper application.

Improper application of these known devices to the hand may result inwrinkles, which can tear or rip during use or create pressure points tothe hand resulting in sores, blisters or the like. These wrinkles cannotbe pressed or smoothed out, as prohibited by its adhesive.

It is therefore desirable to provide a device that overcomes or limitsthe abovementioned problems and drawbacks.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particularobjectives and requirements, the aforementioned devices or systems donot describe a grip improving device, system and method that allowsfacilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over an object.

A need exists for a new and novel grip improving device, system andmethod that can be used for facilitating and/or improving the grip ofthe hands over an object. In this regard, the present technologysubstantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the grip improvingdevice, system and method according to the present technologysubstantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of theprior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed forthe purpose of facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands overan object.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofgrip devices, the present technology provides a novel grip improvingdevice, system and method, and overcomes one or more of the mentioneddisadvantages and drawbacks of these known grip devices. As such, thegeneral purpose of the present technology, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and novel gripimproving device, system and method and method which has all theadvantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel featuresthat result in a grip improving device, system and method which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the priorart, either alone or in any combination thereof.

According to one aspect, the present technology can include a gripsystem to facilitate gripping of an object. The grip system can includea shaped sheet including a first surface and an adhesive layer, and aremovable protective film covering the adhesive layer. The adhesivelayer can be configured to adhere to skin of a hand of a user. Theshaped sheet can include a central portion, and one or morebetween-the-fingers, between-finger-and-wrist and wrist appendices thatcan extend from a perimeter edge of the central portion. The perimeteredge of the central portion can be configured to extend and cover beyonda palm of the hand when applied thereto. The one or more of thebetween-the-fingers appendices can be configured to adhere to a back ofthe hand or around at least one finger and back on the palm of the handand one or more of the between-finger-and-wrist appendices can beconfigured to adhere to a back of the hand or to a back of the hand andextend beyond partially back on the palm of the hand. The protectivefilm can cover the adhesive layer and can have a same configuration asthe shaped sheet. The protective film can include a plurality ofseparate and independently removable sectors. The plurality of sectorscan include a film central portion configured to cover the centralportion of the shaped sheet. The protective film central portion can besubdivided into three or more film central portion segments, and whereinthe sectors of the protective film covering the between-the-fingers andbetween-finger-and-wrist appendices can be subdivided into two or moresegments.

According to another aspect, the present technology can include a methodof using a grip system. The method can include the steps of removing afirst sector of a protective film covering an adhesive layer of a firstbetween-the-finger appendix of a shaped sheet and adhering to a hand ofa user, and then removing a second sector of the protective filmcovering the first between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand.Removing a third sector of the protective film covering a secondbetween-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to thehand, and then removing a fourth sector of the protective film coveringthe second between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand.Removing a fifth sector of the protective film covering a first part ofthe central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand.Removing a sixth sector of the protective film covering a thirdbetween-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to thehand, and then removing a seventh sector of the protective film coveringthe third between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand. Removingan eighth sector of the protective film covering a second part of thecentral portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, and thenremoving a ninth sector of the protective film covering a third part ofthe central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand.Removing a tenth sector of the protective film covering a fourthbetween-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to thehand, and then removing an eleventh sector of the protective filmcovering the fourth between-the-finger appendix and adhering to thehand. Removing a twelfth sector of the protective film covering a firstbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering tothe hand, and then removing a thirteenth sector of the protective filmcovering the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to thehand. Removing a fourteenth sector of the protective film covering asecond between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet andadhering to the hand.

In some embodiments, the method can further include the steps ofremoving a fifteenth sector of the protective film covering the secondbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to the hand, and thenremoving a sixteenth sector of the protective film covering the secondbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix and adhering to the hand.

In some embodiments, the segments of the protective film can eachconfigured to be removed in a specific order to apply an exposed area ofthe adhesive layer, respectively, to the skin of the user in a specificsequential order for proper placement of the sheet on the hand.

In some embodiments, the central portion can have a dimension and can beprovided with the appendices configured to cover completely the palm ofthe hand, so that the perimeter edge outside a surface of the hand palm.

In some embodiments, the perimeter edge of the central portion can beconfigured to be partially adhered to the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the first surface can have a predeterminedcoefficient of friction.

In some embodiments, the first surface can have a surface treatmentconfigured to increase a coefficient of friction thereof.

In some embodiments, the between-the-fingers appendices can beconfigured to be arranged in respective spaces between adjacent fingerswhen the shaped sheet is applied to the hand. The one or morebetween-the-fingers appendices can each have a dimension sufficient toadhere to the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the one or more between-the-fingers appendices canbe a first between-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged betweena middle finger and a ring finger of the hand, a secondbetween-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between the middlefinger and an index finger of the hand, a third between-the-fingerappendix configured to be arranged between the ring finger and a littlefinger of the hand, and a fourth between-the-finger appendix configuredto be arranged between the index finger and a thumb of the hand.

Some embodiments of the present technology can include at least onefirst between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged toadhere to the back of the hand. The first between-finger-and-wristappendix can extend between the thumb and a wrist of the hand.

Some embodiments of the present technology can include at least onesecond between-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged toadhere to the back of the hand extending between the little finger andthe wrist.

In some embodiments, the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix can beconfigured to overlap the fourth between-the-finger appendix on the backof the hand.

In some embodiments, the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix can beconfigured to overlap the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix, andthe fourth between-the-finger appendix on the back of the hand.

In some embodiments, the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix can beconfigured to extend between the thumb and the wrist, and overlap asection of the central portion on a palm side of the hand.

Some embodiments of the present technology can include a wrist appendixconfigured and arranged to adhere to the palm side of the handassociated with the wrist.

In some embodiments, a free end of the second between-finger-and-wristappendix can be configured to overlap a section of the central portionand a section of the wrist appendix.

In some embodiments, the one or more between-the-fingers appendices, thefirst between-finger-and-wrist appendix and the secondbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix can each include a first width and asecond width greater than the first width.

In some embodiments, the shaped sheet can include perforations definedtherethrough.

In some embodiments, the perforations can be defined through at leastone of the one or more between-the-fingers appendices and through thecentral portion.

In some embodiments, the perforations can be radially distributedthrough the central portion.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, features of the presenttechnology in order that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present technology willbe readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a readingof the following detailed description of the present technology, butnonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present technology whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present technology. It is, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presenttechnology.

It is therefore an object of the present technology to provide a new andnovel grip improving device, system and method that has all of theadvantages of the known grip devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present technology to provide a new andnovel grip improving device, system and method that may be easily andefficiently manufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present technology is to provide a new andnovel grip improving device, system and method that has a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, being manufacturedby laser-cutting machines, and which accordingly is then susceptible oflow prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such gripimproving device, system and method economically available to the buyingpublic.

Still another object of the present technology is to provide a new gripimproving device, system and method that provides in the apparatuses andmethods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, whilesimultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associatedtherewith.

These together with other objects of the present technology, along withthe various features of novelty that characterize the presenttechnology, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed toand forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of thepresent technology, its operating advantages and the specific objectsattained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustratedembodiments of the present technology. Whilst multiple objects of thepresent technology have been identified herein, it will be understoodthat the claimed present technology is not limited to meeting most orall of the objects identified and that some embodiments of the presenttechnology may meet only one such object or none at all.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present technology will be better understood and objects other thanthose set forth above will become apparent when consideration is givento the following detailed description thereof. Such description makesreference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plane view of an embodiment of the grip improvingsystem constructed in accordance with the principles of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grip improving system takenalong line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear plane view of the grip improving system showing theprotective film and sectors.

FIG. 4 is a front plane view of the grip improving system showing theappendices.

FIG. 5 is a rear plane view of the grip improving system showing theprotective film and removable sectors.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the grip improving system appliedto the palm side of the hand, with phantom lines depicting environmentalstructure and forming no part of the claimed present technology.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the grip improving system appliedto the back side of the hand.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the grip improving system appliedto the palm side of the hand including arrows showing applicationdirection.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the grip improving system appliedto the back side of the hand including arrows showing applicationdirection.

FIG. 10 is a front plane view of the grip improving system showing thepentagon-like central section of the present technology.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the first between-finger-and-wristappendix being applied to the back side of the hand with its firstprotective film sector removed.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the grip improvising system beingprepared for initial application with the first sector of the firstbetween-the-finger appendix being removed while being held in a hand.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view showing the first between-the-fingerappendix being applied around the middle finger and back toward the palmside.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view showing the first between-the-fingerappendix passing between the index and middle fingers, and being appliedto the palm side of the hand.

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view showing the secondbetween-the-finger appendix passing between the index finger and thumb,and being applied to the palm side of the hand near the already appliedfirst between-the-finger appendix.

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view showing one of the protective filmsectors of the central portion being removed for application to the palmside of the hand overlapping the already applied first and second firstbetween-the-finger appendices.

FIG. 17 is a front plane view of the protective film of the gripincluding engravings or markings.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the grip in a folded or packaged state.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth, such as particularembodiments, procedures, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present technology. However, it will be apparent toone skilled in the art that the present technology may be practiced inother embodiments that depart from these specific details.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-18, anexemplary embodiment of the grip improving device, system and method ofthe present technology is shown and generally designated by thereference numeral 10. While the grip 10 in the figures is shown for aleft hand, it can be appreciated that the grip 10 can be manufactureand/or utilized for a right hand or both.

The present technology can be a disposable device developed tofacilitate and improve the grip of the hands over sport equipments,sport balls, working tools or any other object graspable by a hand,while maintaining sensibility. The grip 10 of the present technology caninclude seven or more appendices and fourteen or more sectors ofprotective film. The same reference numbers in different drawingsidentify equal elements. Furthermore, it can be appreciated that thegrip 10 illustrated in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and canvary in size to accommodate difference sized hands. The detaileddescription below describes exemplary embodiments of the presenttechnology.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the grip 10 can include a shaped sheet made 12of a synthetic, semi-synthetic or natural material, with a first surface14 and a second surface or protective film 18 opposite to the firstsurface 14, whose thickness is comprised between 100 and 2000 μm(micrometers), based upon the type or activity for which the grip 10 isintended, to achieve optimal results. In fact, optimal results can beachieved if sensibility is maintained during use and sensibility ismaintained with a quite thin thickness of the shaped sheet 12, which maybe made of a very soft material that can adapt itself to the shape ofthe hand.

The first surface 14 of the shaped sheet 12 can have a high coefficientof friction specific for the particular use for which the grip 10 isintended for use in different sport or working activities.

Over or adjacent with the first surface 14 of the shaped sheet has beenapplied a layer of an adhesive 16 compatible for adhesion with the humanskin, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The adhesive layer 16 can besuitable to stay into contact with the skin for a long time with no harmand which is removable from the skin. Typically, the adhesive 16 canbelong to the chemical family of the adhesives used for stickingplasters.

The second surface can be a removable protective film 18 that can beapplied over or adjacent with the adhesive layer 16, as best illustratedin FIG. 2. The protective film 18 can be divided in several sectors 20,as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, where different sectors 20 areseparated by separation lines 22, shown as broken or dashed lines. Thesesectors 20 can be removed from the adhesive layer 16 independently fromeach other. This protective film 18 can be treated, for example butwithout limitation, with a silicon-like product so that it can be easilypeeled off the layer of adhesive 16 applied on the first surface 14 ofthe shaped sheet 12.

The shaped sheet 12 can include a plurality of appendices A, B, C, D, E,F and G, which extend from the central portion H. It can be appreciatedthat the appendices A-G may be somewhat different in shape from what isillustrated in the figures, and can be different in shape each from theother. The grip 10 can include sufficient appendices to be firmly fixedon of the hand, as will be explained below. Also, the appendices A-G canbe configured to extend between-fingers, between finger-and wrist, or toand/or around a wrist of the hand, and can be shaped and sized in such away that in so extending they cooperate with the central portion H incompletely covering the palm of the hand, especially the area wherefriction will be exerted during use. All perimeter edges of the shapedsheet 12 can be brought or extended out of this area of friction and onthe back of the hand, as described below and shown in FIGS. 6-9.

In the exemplary embodiments, the shaped sheet 12 can include:

-   -   four or more between-fingers appendices A, B, C, D, as they        extend between two adjacent fingers;    -   two or more between-finger-and-wrist appendices E, F, as they        extend between a finger and the wrist;    -   one or more wrist appendix G, as it extends to and/or around the        wrist.

In particular each appendix, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for easierunderstanding, can extend from the central portion H, as belowdescribed:

The shaped sheet 12 can include perforations 24 defined through thefirst surface 14 and the adhesive layer 16, and further can be definedthrough the protective film 18. The perforations 24 can be configured toreduce the problems arising from sweating from the skin, therebyproviding ventilation and/or aeration to the skin. In the exemplary, theperforations 24 can be associated with the central portion H, a firstportion of the appendices A, B, C, and/or a second portion of theappendices A, B, C. The perforations 24 that can be associated with thecentral portion H can be configured in a radial pattern that radiate outfrom a central location, and with a section thereof extending furtherout that other sections toward the between-finger-and-wrist appendix Eand/or the wrist appendix G.

The perforations 24 that can be associated with the first portion of theappendices A, B, C can be a straight line of perforations starting froman area adjacent to where the appendices A, B, C extend out from thecentral portion H.

The perforations 24 that can be associated with the second portion ofthe appendices A, B, C can have a circular or radial configuration.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, each, any or all of the appendices A-Fcan have a first width W1 extending from the central portion H, a secondwidth W2 adjacent to and less than the first width W1, and a third widthW3 adjacent to and less than the second width W2. It can be appreciatedthat the third width W3 can be greater than the first width W1.

Appendix A can extend between a ring finger and a little finger orpinky, then around the little finger and back on the palm of the hand.

Appendix B can extend between a middle finger and the ring finger, thenaround the middle finger or alternatively around the ring finger andback to the palm of the hand.

Appendix C can extend between the middle finger and an index finger,then around the index finger and back on the palm of the hand.

Appendix D can extend between the index finger and a thumb and then onthe back of the hand. Further, appendix D can extend from the centralportion H in a generally perpendicular direction in relation withappendix C and/or E.

Appendix E can extend between the thumb and the wrist and then to theback of the hand. Further, appendix E can extend from the centralportion H in a generally perpendicular direction in relation withappendix D, and opposite from appendices A, B, C.

Appendix F can extend between the little finger and the wrist, then tothe back of the hand and then around between the thumb and the wristback to the palm side of the wrist, overlapping partially appendix E andpartially appendix G. Further, Appendix F can extend from the centralportion H in a generally perpendicular direction in relation withappendix A, and opposite of appendix D. Still further, appendix F caninclude a section that extends in a direction angled away from appendixA, thereby resulting in a first section extending from the centralportion H at a first angle, and a second section extending from thefirst section at a second angle different from the first angle.

Appendix G can extend from the central portion H to palm side of thewrist. Appendix G can include one or more curved protruding sectionswith a trough section therebetween. The protruding sections can extendout from the central portion H further than the trough section, therebyextending further onto or past the wrist when appendix G is appliedduring use.

The overall stability of the grip 10 on the hand of the user duringactivity, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, can be made possible by:

-   -   the anchoring of appendices A, B, C around respective fingers        and back on the hand palm where they are further overlapped and        fixed by sectors of the central portion H which cover and stick        these three appendices A, B, C on the hand palm;    -   the anchoring of appendix G on the wrist;    -   the partial overlapping of appendices D, E from one side and        appendix F from the other on the back of the hand;    -   the further partial overlapping of appendix F from the back of        the hand around between the thumb and the wrist with appendix E        and then to the palm side of the wrist for partial overlapping        with appendix G.

A challenge to be solved for the functionality of the present technologyis how to wear the grip 10 on the hand, since it can be presented in aflat two dimensional shape and then transformed to a complex threedimensional anatomical shape of the human hand.

The challenge arises from the fact that, as anyone skilled in the art ofknowledge of these skin-suited, pressure-sensitive adhesives knows,these adhesives cannot normally be used twice, meaning that theself-adhesive shaped sheet cannot be applied on the skin, then peeledoff and then applied again without losing most of the adhesive power,which is important for the stability of the device. This is because mostof the thin layer of adhesive will be used and lost after the firsttime, as normal experience with sticking strippers teaches. This meansthat, during the wearing process, there are no two chances, and nomistakes can be done by sticking parts of the self-adhesive firstsurface of the shaped sheet on wrong areas of itself making wrinklesthat cannot afterward be rubbed or smoothed out, or on wrong areas ofthe skin and then removed, and that no portion of the first surface withthe adhesive may be touched by the fingers of the hand used by the userto apply and wear the device on the opposite hand (a user applies thedevice on his left hand using his right hand, and vice versa).

Adapting the simple flat shape of the shaped sheet to the complex shapeof the human hand, during the wearing procedure, can make these abovesaid mistakes very hard to avoid.

A solution to this challenge, which the present technology overcomes,lies in the specifically planned design of the set of the many sectors20 in which the protective film 18, covering the layer of adhesive 16applied on the first surface 14 of the shaped sheet 12, is divided, asbest illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. An exemplary embodiment of the grip10 can include fourteen or more sectors 20, with some embodimentsincluding sixteen sectors, where the sectors 20 are delimited by theseparation lines 22.

It is not only the number of sectors 20, associated with more for aneasier wearing procedure, but also the planned shapes, dimensions andlocations of each of the sectors 20 of the protective film 18 that makeit possible to easily wear the grip 10 on the hand. This can beaccomplished by removing one sector of protective film 18 and pressingand sticking the relative exposed adhesive 16 area to the skin of thehand, before proceeding with a next sector, following a preferred,specific sequential order so that none of the abovementioned mistakesare done in the wearing process.

This can be achieved by the user by separating the sectors 20 into asequential ordered number of sectors 20(1)-20(16), as best illustratedin FIG. 5. These separate sectors 20(1)-20(16) of the protective film 18can be removed from the adhesive layer 16 of each of the appendices A-Gand the central portion H in sequential order starting from sector20(1), then 20(2), and so on. A process for this can be accomplished byholding between the thumb and the index of the opposite hand (oppositeto the one wearing the grip 10) the sector of protective film 18 next tothe one the user has just removed and that was protecting the portion offirst surface 14 the user is applying on the hand, as illustrated inFIG. 11. It can be appreciated that the sectors 20(4), 20(2), 20(7),20(16), 20(13), 20(11) can be small enough, comparative to the othersectors, so that they can be removed and the exposed area of firstsurface 14 with the adhesive 16 can be applied on the hand without beingtouched by the fingers of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, which illustrates all the extensions of eachappendix A-G, giving evidence of how the central portion H together withinitial parts of each of the appendices A-G completely cover the area ofthe palm 7 of the hand 1, where the friction of the sport or workingequipment will be exerted, leaving no borders between shaped sheet 12and skin exposed in this area to the frictions and tractions exerted bythe sport equipment or working tool. This must be accomplished becauseon these borders the shaped sheet 12 could easily be peeled off. At thesame time the grip 10 is shows how the complex system of anchoring andoverlapping among appendices A-G makes the grip 10 firm and stable onthe hand 1 of the user during use, anchoring all described five sides ofthe central portion H. With reference to FIGS. 6-9, the hand 1 caninclude a thumb 2, an index finger 3, a middle finger 4, a ring finger5, a pinky or little finger 6, a palm 7, a wrist 8 and/or a back 9 ofthe hand 1.

Tests of the present technology were performed with athletes overseveral years having proven necessary that the shaped sheet 12, afterhaving been applied on the hand, should have no border edges betweenitself and the skin of the user that are exposed on the palm of the handto friction of the sport or work equipment. This is an advantageousfeature of the grip 10 over known devises, and without this feature thegrip 10 may not be used properly and in an advantageous manner, sincethe grip 10 may quickly peel off the hand during use. Accordingly, nofrictions are normally to be exerted on the back of the hand where allthe border edges of the shaped sheet 12 are brought by the extension ofall appendices A-G. FIGS. 6 and 8 clearly show that all the border orperimeter edges of the central portion H of the shaped sheet 12 are notlocated on the palm side of the hand, but are extended over to the backside of the hand, thereby leaving no border edge exposed to contact theobject being gripped.

The sequential order of sectors 20(1)-20(16) described above ishereafter thoroughly described, for an embodiment of the grip 10 withseven appendices A-G and sixteen sectors 20(1)-20(16) of protective film18, in the exemplary. Alternatively, this sequential order is so basicfor the wearing process and for the functionality of the grip 10 that itcan be printed on the sectors of the protective film of the finalproduced device as wearing instructions to the user, as best illustratedin FIG. 17, where some numbers look upside down because they will appearstraight up to the user during the described wearing process. Theexemplary printings or markings 30 can be, but not limited to, engravedinto the protective film 18 using laser cutting or engraving techniquesand/or machines. For example, it can be appreciated that after the userwould remove sector “1” of the protective film 18 and then applied it tothe hand as per the engraved direction arrow 32, the next sequentialsector to be removed and applied would be sector “2”. Further in theexemplary, the engraving or marking can identify the grip 10 as forutilization with a left hand or right hand and/or a size 34 of the grip10, for example grip size “5-7”.

The following exemplary steps 1 through 9, with reference to FIGS. 8 and9, are provided for a complete understanding of the complex wearingprocedure and its meaning for the stability of the grip 10 on the handduring use. It is pointed out that appendix G may not have its ownsector but instead can be included with a portion of protective film 18associated with and contiguous to sector 20(9) of the central portion H.FIGS. 8 and 9 show the specific extensions of each of the appendices A-Gand their meaning for the stability of the grip 10 on the hand of theuser.

Step 1: Sector 20(1) can be removed from appendix B, and the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix B can extend between the middle finger4 and the ring finger 5, and around the middle finger 4, as bestillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12-14, or, alternatively, around the ringfinger 5, then adjacent sector 20(2) can be removed and the relativeexposed adhesive area of this end of appendix B can be applied back onthe palm 7 of the hand 1. Sector 20(1) can be removed utilizingseparation lines 22(1-5) and 22(1-2), and sector 20(2) can be removedutilizing separation line 22(1-2).

Step 2: Sector 20(3) can be removed from appendix C, and the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix C can extend between the middle finger4 and the index finger 3 and around the index finger 3, then theadjacent sector 20(4) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesivearea of the end of appendix C can be applied back on the palm 7 of thehand 1, as best illustrated in FIG. 15. Sector 20(3) can be removedutilizing separation lines 22(3-5) and 22(3-4), and sector 20(4) can beremoved utilizing separation line 22(3-4).

It can be appreciated that Steps 1 and 2 anchor appendices B and Cstrongly around their respective fingers. It can further be appreciatedthat Steps 1 and 2 position their respective appendices A, B, C aroundtheir respective fingers in a way that positions their correspondingperforations 24 on the back side 9 of the fingers that is opposite thecentral portion H, as best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9. The reason forthis feature is not to help transpiration of sweating from those areas,but instead, to make, by the perforations, softer and more flexible thematerial of the shaped sheet of the between-the-finger appendices inthose areas that must bend around the fingers.

Step 3: Sector 20(5) can be removed from the central portion H, as bestillustrated in FIG. 16, and the relative exposed adhesive area of thecentral portion H can be applied on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Step 3 cancreate an overlapping of the exposed area of sector 20(5) over theendings of appendices B and C, anchoring these two appendices stronglyon the palm 7 of the hand 1. Sector 20(5) of the central portion H canbe removed utilizing separation lines 22(1-5), 22(3-5), 22(5-6), 22(5-8)and 22(5-10).

Step 4: Sector 20(6) can be removed from appendix A, and the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix A can then extend between the ringfinger 5 and the little finger 6 and around the little finger 6, thenadjacent sector 20(7) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesivearea of the end of appendix A can be applied back on the palm 7 of thehand 1. Step 4 can anchor appendix A strongly around the little finger6. Sector 20(6) can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(5-6) and22(6-7), and sector 20(7) can be removed utilizing separation line22(6-7).

Step 5: Sector 20(8) can be removed from the central portion H, and therelative exposed adhesive area of the central portion H can be appliedonto the palm 7 of the hand 1. Step 5 can create an overlapping of theexposed area of sector 20(8) over the ending of appendix A, so stronglyanchoring appendix A on the palm 7 of the hand 1. Sector 20(8) of thecentral portion H can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(5-8),22(8-9), and 22(8-14). In some embodiments, the sector 20(8) can have agenerally triangular configuration, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and8.

Step 6: Sector 20(9) can be removed from the central portion H and fromappendix G, sector 20(9) of the central portion H, and the relativeexposed adhesive area of the central portion H can be applied on thepalm area 7, then the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix G canbe applied on the palm side 7 of the wrist 8. Sector 20(9) of thecentral portion H can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(8-9), and22(9-12).

Step 7: Sector 20(10) can be removed from appendix D, and the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix D can then extend between the indexfinger 3 and the thumb 2 and then on the back 9 of the hand 1, then theadjacent sector 20(11) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesivearea can be applied on the back 9 of the hand 1. Sector 20(10) can beremoved utilizing separation lines 22(5-10) and 22(11-11), and sector20(11) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(10-11).

Step 8: Sector 20(12) can be removed from appendix E, the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix E can extend between the thumb 2 andthe wrist 8 and then on the back 9 of the hand 1, then the adjacentsector 20(13) can be removed and the relative exposed adhesive area canbe applied on the back 9 of the hand 1. Sector 20(12) can be removedutilizing separation lines 22(9-12) and 22(12-13), and sector 20(13) canbe removed utilizing separation line 22(12-13).

Step 9: Sector 20(14) can be removed from appendix F, the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix F can extend between the little finger6 and the wrist 8 and then to the back 9 of the hand 1, then theadjacent sector 20(15) can be removed from appendix F, the relativeexposed adhesive area of appendix F can be applied on the back 9 of thehand 1 and then around between the thumb 2 and the wrist 8 back towardthe palm side 7 of the wrist 8, the adjacent sector 20(16) can beremoved and the relative exposed adhesive area of appendix F partiallyoverlaps the root of appendix E and the ending appendix G. Sector 20(14)can be removed utilizing separation lines 22(8-14) and 22(14-15), sector20(15) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(14-15) and 22(15-16),and sector 20(16) can be removed utilizing separation line 22(15-16).

When the grip 10 is applied to the hand as describe above in Steps 1-9,the thumb and fingers are substantially exposed, with the thumb 2, indexfinger 3, middle finger 4, little finger 6 and wrist 8 being wrapped bytheir respective appendices A-G. This results in the ring finger 5 notbeing wrapped or associated with an appendix, there being five fingersbut only four between-finger spaces. However, it can be appreciated thatan additional appendix can be utilized around the ring finger 5.

In the alternative, the central portion H, which can have apentagon-like shape with five sides, as best illustrated with the dottedlines in FIG. 10. This pentagon-like shape, in order to be kept firm andstable on the palm of the hand, can be anchored from each one of itsfive sides, since just the adhesive of the first surface 14 of thecentral portion H may not guarantee this firmness and stability, being a“skin-friendly” one and for this reason not too strong.

This wearing or application procedure is at least one key to thestability of the central portion H on the palm of the hand since thecentral portion H, which has a shape configured approximately like apentagon (FIG. 10), can include:

-   -   one side anchored by appendix A, B, C;    -   one side anchored by appendix D;    -   one side anchored by appendix E;    -   one side anchored by appendix F; and    -   one side anchored by appendix G.

The five sides of the pentagon-like shape of the central portion H,shown in FIG. 10 with dashed lines, are determined as follows, where foreach side is also described the anchoring provided by one or moreappendices A-G:

Side V, facing the area in front of the four fingers: index, middle,ring and little fingers, is anchored around the fingers and back on thepalm of the hand by the extensions of appendices A, B, C, extensionswhich are even more strongly anchored on the palm of the hand by beingoverlapped by parts of the central portion.

Side W, facing the area between index and thumb, is anchored on the backof the hand by appendix D, which is in that area even more stronglyanchored by being overlapped by Appendix E.

Side X, facing the area between thumb and wrist, is anchored on the backof the hand by appendix E, which is in that area even more stronglyanchored by being overlapped by Appendix F.

Side Y, facing the area of the palm side of the wrist, is anchored onthe wrist by appendix G, and moreover by the reflected appendix Fextending from the back of the hand and partially overlapping appendicesE and G.

Side Z, facing the area between the little finger and the wrist, isanchored on the back of the hand and partially back on the palm of thehand by appendix F.

Were only one of the five sides of the pentagon-like central portion Hbe left without the specific anchorage, the device could not resist,just by the power of the adhesive of the first surface, to the frictionsand tractions exerted by the equipments on the palm of the hand area,and it would soon slip and detach from the palm of the hand, as verymany field test have clearly proved.

The above wearing or application procedure has proved to be fast andeasy to learn by the users, as experience from many tests with differentathletes in different sports has proved, and a number of sectors 20 ofprotective film greater than the least fourteen has proved to permit aneasier wearing procedure and easier avoiding of mistakes.

A function of the set of all the appendices A-G is to complete acoverage of the palm of the hand, which is accomplished for the mostpart by the central portion H and, by adhering to the back of the hand,anchor the central portion H firmly on the palm of the hand, avoidingslipping of the shaped sheet 12 over the hand palm, and so givingstability to the grip 10.

It can be appreciated that the subdivision of the protective film 18 inseveral sectors 20 allows grip 10 to be easily applied to the handduring the wearing procedure, perfectly adapting its simple,two-dimensional shape to the complex three dimensional shape of thehuman hand.

Referring to FIG. 18, the shapes, sizes and locations of the sectors ofthe protective film 18 can be designed and configured to allow the grip10 to fold into a compact form for achieving ease of packaging,transporting, carrying and/or marketing. The grip 10 can easily befolded and held between fingers of a user's hand, stored in a pocket foraccessibility when needed or packaged in a small package for marketing.

The grip 10 can be disposable, and configured to anatomically adapt tothe human hand so as to cover completely the palm of the hand withoutinterruption over the entire area of the palm of the hand, wherefriction will be exerted by the sport equipment, sport ball or workingtool, bringing all the border edges between the shaped sheet 12 and theskin of the hand out of this working area being the palm, and mostly onthe back of the hand.

So, the grip 10 can be utilized to replace the function of a glove, butavoiding the inevitable sliding movements of the glove on the skin ofthe palm of the hand, so giving greater sensibility and control over thesport equipment or working tool. Due to the small thickness of the firstsurface 14, the grip 10 actually proposes itself as a substitute of theskin for the contact with the sport or working equipment, but withimproved gripping power, no reduction of sensibility and protection forthe skin from injuries. Also, remaining the contact between the firstsurface 14 of the grip 10 on the palm of the hand and the sportequipment or working tool completely dry, via the perforations 24,accordingly reducing or remove moisture and thus increasing the qualityof the grip.

Essentially, the grip 10 is designed to facilitate and improve the gripof equipments of various kinds, functioning as a “second skin”specifically designed to cover the friction area for this function.

The idea underlying the present technology is to transfer the grippingproperties from the sport equipment, ball or working tool, directly tothe human hand by the grip 10 that anatomically adapts to the complexshape of the hand and covers the entire palm of the hand like aspecialized “second skin” optimizing the grip and allowing greatsensibility and maximal power transmission, while also protecting theskin.

It can be appreciated that the grip 10 can be designed for the right andthe left hands, and can vary in size to fit different hand sizes.

It can be appreciated that in practice, in order to apply the grip 10 tothe hand 1, each of the sectors 20 of the protective film 18 isindependently removed and the exposed adhesive area of the first surface14 covered with the adhesive 16 is applied and pressed on the skin,before removing the next sector of the protective film 18 to do the sameprocedure. The more than fourteen sectors 20 make applying the grip 10easier than known devices and avoid mistakes during the wearing orapplication procedure.

This wearing procedure follows a preferred sequential order in removingeach sector and applying each of the appendices, as thoroughly describedabove. This wearing procedure is made possible by the particular planneddesigned shapes, dimensions and locations of each of the appendices ofthe shaped sheet and of each of the sectors of the protective film. Theset of the many sectors of the protective film permits the easy wearingof the grip 10, avoiding, during this wearing procedure, the adhesive ofthe first surface from sticking all over in wrong areas of the skin ofthe hand or forming creases or wrinkles that cannot afterwards beflatten or smoothed anymore and would make the accessory or deviceunusable. The central portion and the appendices of the shaped sheet areapplied to the skin of the hand of the user, by removing one after theother the several sectors of their portion of protective film, followingthe above mentioned preferred sequential order.

This wearing procedure is one key to make possible and easing thewearing process and to the perfect stability of the present technologyon the hand during use.

The at least seven appendices of the shaped sheet, with their shapes,sizes, configurations and extensions, cooperate with the central portionof the shaped sheet in completely covering the palm of the hand.

The extensions of the appendices can also extend the coverage of thepalm of the hand somewhat beyond its borders, bringing all perimeteredges of the shaped sheet out of this area of frictions and tractionsand on the back of the hand, where no frictions or tractions areexerted.

The present technology, wherein the numbers, shapes, sizes and locationsof all the appendices and of all the sectors of the protective film areplanned and designed to make it possible to determine a preferredsequential order following which all the sectors of said protective filmcovering the central portion and covering all the appendices, are oneafter the other removed, and the relative exposed areas of said firstsurface with the adhesive are one after the other applied to the skin ofthe user, in such a way that it becomes practically possible for saidshaped sheet, during the wearing procedure, to adapt to the complexanatomical three dimensional shape of the human hand and to be firmlyanchored on it, giving stability to the grip of the present technologyand without sticking parts of the adhesive first surface of the shapedsheet on wrong areas of the hand or on itself making wrinkles.

While embodiments of the grip improving device, system and method havebeen described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andvariations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the truespirit and scope of the present technology. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the present technology, to includevariations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner ofoperation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious toone skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present technology. For example, anysuitable sturdy material may be used instead of the above-described. Andalthough facilitating and/or improving the grip of the hands over anobject have been described, it should be appreciated that the gripimproving device, system and method herein described is also suitablefor assisting in gripping, grasping or holding any hand-held device orimplement.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the present technology. Further, since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the present technology to the exactconstruction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the present technology.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A grip system tofacilitate gripping of an object, the grip system comprising: a shapedsheet including a first surface and an adhesive layer configured adhereto skin of a hand of a user, the shaped sheet including a centralportion and one or more between-the-fingers appendices, one or morebetween-finger-and-wrist appendices and one or more wrist appendicesthat extend from a perimeter edge of the central portion, the perimeteredge of the central portion being configured to extend and cover beyonda palm of the hand when applied thereto, wherein one or more of thebetween-the-fingers appendices being configured to adhere to a back ofthe hand or around at least one finger and back on the palm of the hand,and one or more of the between-finger-and-wrist appendices beingconfigured to adhere to the back of the hand; and a removable protectivefilm covering the adhesive layer and having a same configuration as theshaped sheet, the protective film including a plurality of separate andindependently removable sectors, wherein the sectors including a filmcentral portion configured to cover the central portion of the shapedsheet, the film central portion being subdivided into three or more filmcentral portion segments, and wherein the sectors of the protective filmcovering the between-the-fingers and the between-finger-and-wristappendices are subdivided into two or more segments.
 2. The grip systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the segments of the protective film areeach configured to be removed in a specific order to apply an exposedarea of the adhesive layer, respectively, to the skin of the user in aspecific sequential order for proper placement of the shaped sheet onthe hand.
 3. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the centralportion has a dimension and provided with the between-the-fingers andthe between-finger-and-wrist appendices is configured to covercompletely the palm of the hand, so that the perimeter edge is outside asurface of the palm of the hand.
 4. The grip system according to claim3, wherein the perimeter edge of the central portion configured to beadhered to the back of the hand.
 5. The grip system according to claim1, wherein the first surface has a predetermined coefficient offriction.
 6. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein the firstsurface has a surface treatment configured to increase a coefficient offriction thereof.
 7. The grip system according to claim 1, wherein thebetween-the-fingers appendices are configured to be arranged inrespective spaces between adjacent fingers when the shaped sheet isapplied to the hand, and wherein the one or more between-the-fingers andthe between-finger-and-wrist appendices each have a dimension sufficientto adhere to the back of the hand.
 8. The grip system according to claim1, wherein the one or more between-the-fingers appendices are a firstbetween-the-finger appendix configured to be arranged between a middlefinger and a ring finger of the hand, a second between-the-fingerappendix configured to be arranged between the middle finger and anindex finger of the hand, a third between-the-finger appendix configuredto be arranged between the ring finger and a little finger of the hand,and a fourth between-the-finger appendix configured to be arrangedbetween the index finger and a thumb of the hand.
 9. The grip systemaccording to claim 8 further comprising at least one firstbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere tothe back of the hand, the first between-finger-and-wrist appendixextending between the thumb and a wrist of the hand.
 10. The grip systemaccording to claim 9 further comprising at least one secondbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix configured and arranged to adhere tothe back of the hand extending between the little finger and the wrist.11. The grip system according to claim 10, wherein the firstbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix configured to overlap the fourthbetween-the-finger appendix on the back of the hand.
 12. The grip systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the second between-finger-and-wristappendix is configured to overlap the first between-finger-and-wristappendix, and the fourth between-the-finger appendix on the back of thehand.
 13. The grip system according to claim 12, wherein the secondbetween-finger-and-wrist appendix is configured to extend beyond theback of the hand between the thumb and the wrist, and overlap a sectionof the central portion on a palm side of the hand.
 14. The grip systemaccording to claim 13 further comprising a wrist appendix configured andarranged to adhere to the palm side of the hand associated with thewrist.
 15. The grip system according to claim 14, wherein a free end ofthe second between-finger-and-wrist appendix is configured to overlapthe section of the central portion and a section of the wrist appendix.16. The grip system according to claim 13, wherein the one or morebetween-the-fingers appendices, the first between-finger-and-wristappendix and the second between-finger-and-wrist appendix each include afirst width and a second width greater than the first width.
 17. Thegrip system according to claim 1, wherein the shaped sheet includesperforations defined therethrough.
 18. The grip system according toclaim 17, wherein the perforations are defined through at least one ofthe one or more between-the-fingers appendices and through the centralportion.
 19. The grip system according to claim 17, wherein theperforations are radially distributed through the central portion.
 20. Amethod of using a grip system, the method comprising the steps of: a)removing a first sector of a protective film covering an adhesive layerof a first between-the-finger appendix of a shaped sheet and adhering toa hand of a user, and then removing a second sector of the protectivefilm covering the first between-the-finger appendix and adhering to thehand; b) removing a third sector of the protective film covering asecond between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering tothe hand, and then removing a fourth sector of the protective filmcovering the second between-the-finger appendix and adhering to thehand; c) removing a fifth sector of the protective film covering a firstpart of a central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand;d) removing a sixth sector of the protective film covering a thirdbetween-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering to thehand, and then removing a seventh sector of the protective film coveringthe third between-the-finger appendix and adhering to the hand; e)removing an eighth sector of the protective film covering a second partof the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to the hand, andthen removing a ninth sector of the protective film covering a thirdpart of the central portion of the shaped sheet and adhering to thehand; f) removing a tenth sector of the protective film covering afourth between-the-finger appendix of the shaped sheet and adhering tothe hand, and then removing an eleventh sector of the protective filmcovering the fourth between-the-finger appendix and adhering to thehand; g) removing a twelfth sector of the protective film covering afirst between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheet and adheringto the hand, and then removing a thirteenth sector of the protectivefilm covering the first between-finger-and-wrist appendix and adheringto the hand; and h) removing a fourteenth sector of the protective filmcovering a second between-finger-and-wrist appendix of the shaped sheetand adhering to the hand.